Hanford’s Juarez returns to action at 559 Fights

HANFORD, Ca. – 559 Fights returns to action at the Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford, Calif. this Saturday and will be headlined by Hanford’s Steven Juarez.

Juarez made his amateur mixed martial arts debut in April, winning by submission and spearheading a successful debut for the up-start 559 Fights promotion.

“Steve looked great in his debut and I’m happy we are able to bring him back and help continue to mold his future,” said 559 Fight’s Jeremy Luchau.

559 Fights second installment of MMA action will take place indoors and feature 11 action packed bouts that include fighters from all over Kings County and beyond including a co-main event featuring Avenal heavyweight Jose Aispuro.

“Joey Perez and I are dedicated to bringing the very best amateur MMA possible to Hanford. Our last event was a huge success and most importantly was a good experience for the fighters and fans. This event has several popular fighters in the area from some of the best gyms in our area,” Luchau said.

Doors open at 2:30 p.m. with fights starting at 3 p.m. Tickets start at just $20 with reserved seating being priced at $35. Tickets can be purchased online at www.559fights.com or at the Kings Fairgrounds Office. VIP Tables are also available and can be purchased by calling 559-362-4046.

Juarez will be pitted against Lemoore’s Alberto Arreola, who also made a successful debut in April. Arreola is also a standout wrestler, who earned all-American honors at West Hills College Lemoore last year.

“I know he is a wrestler. He was a high school state champ and I wasn’t but I’m a college all-American and he isn’t so that evens things out,” Arreola said of Juarez. “I think it’s going to come out to who can be better on the feet or get the takedown.”’

Juarez has been focused on becoming comfortable in the cage and developing his own skill set.

“I’ve been working on being comfortable in the cage. It is what’s important especially right now. I need to combine everything in the cage. In the first fight I wanted to comfortable and to get the first fight out of the way and see my flaws. That was a stepping stone this fight will be different,” Juarez said.

“I know him somewhat. He has a background in wrestling, but my skill level is different. I feel I’m stronger in wrestling. But this fight I can step outside that and show some different things,” the former Hanford High state champ added.

In the co-main event, Aispuro (1-1) meets Kingsburg’s John Mathison (1-1), which was supposed to take place in April, but Mathison was sidelined with an illness following weighins.

“I think Aispuro is a rising star in the area and some one that will probably be making the jump to the professional level soon. He has a very large following,” Luchau said. “Mathison is just a tough guy and is stepping up to try and steal some of that spotlight that Aispuro has been receiving since he started his career.”

Also returning to action is Lemoore’s Anthony Martinez (1-0), who is a teammate of Aispuro on Team Ochoa. Martinez will take on Mathison’s teammate Robert Vildasola (0-0).

In other bouts;

- Orosi, Calif. middleweight Leo Quezada (1-2) vs. Fresno, Calif.’s Rudy Gutierrez (0-3).

- Modesto, Calif. lightweight Scott Flesher (1-0) vs. Tulare, Calif.’s Derek Bailey (0-0).

- Visalia, Calif. featherweight Cameron Ramirez (0-0) vs. Reedley, Calif.’s Gerardo Garcia (0-1).

- Lemoore, Calif. bantamweight Andrew Skyers (0-2) vs. Tulare, Calif.’s J.J. Madrid (0-1).

- Hanford, Calif. cruiserweight Joseph Longoria (0-1) vs. Gilroy, Calif.’s Antonio VanBuren (1-0).

- Hanford, Calif. lightweight Jason Ollivier (0-0) vs. Tulare, Calif.’s Tyrell Tucker (0-0).

- Visalia, Calif. featherweight Cisco Ortega (0-0) vs. Tulare, Calif.’s Edgar Loza (1-0).

- Hanford, Calif. flyweight Tannar Jordan (0-0) vs. Fresno, Calif.’s Able Garcia (0-0).